Policy banning beef export withdrawn

BANGALORE: The Working Group on Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Planning Commission has withdrawn the policy decision to allow beef export, S K Mittal, Co-Convenor of Cow Development Cell said here on Monday.Addressing a press conference, Mittal said that the Commission has stated that it was a clerical mistake recommending the approval of beef export policy.Initially the policy read, “The country needs to have consistent and uniform slaughter policy across different states to make the industry competitive.There is an existing ban on beef exports; therefore, it is necessary to revise the policy to allow beef export.” Now this clause has been deleted, he added.The government has announced the ‘Gou Seva Aayog’ scheme to protect and promote the cattle wealth.Despite criticism on the Cow Slaughter Bill, Mittal said that this scheme will prohibit illegal marketing, transportation and slaughter of cows in the state.He failed to address as to how the unproductive cows could be handled without slaughter.